Portable foldable barriers and methods to produce and use the same

ABSTRACT

Portable foldable barriers and methods to produce and use the same. An exemplary portable barrier of the present disclosure has a first panel, a second panel connected to the first panel using a first connector, and a third panel connected to the second panel using a second connector, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first connector connects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface of the second panel, and wherein the second connector connects the second surface of the second panel and the second surface of the third panel.

PRIORITY

The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefitof, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,975, filed Jun.23, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein expresslyand by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Various portable barriers currently on the market may be sufficient forsome purposes, but not for all purposes due to the size, weight,configurations, and/or cost of the same.

The present disclosure provides disclosure of relatively inexpensive,lightweight, and portable barriers suitable for a number of purposesincluding, but not limited to, as portable barriers used in connectionwith ping pong (table tennis) play.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, comprising a first panel; a second panel connected to the firstpanel using a first connector; wherein the first panel and the secondpanel each have a first surface and an opposing second surface; andwherein the first connector connects the first surface of the firstpanel and the first surface of the second panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, comprising a first panel; a second panel connected to the firstpanel using a first connector; a third panel connected to the secondpanel using a second connector; wherein the first panel, the secondpanel, and the third panel each have a first surface and an opposingsecond surface; wherein the first connector connects the first surfaceof the first panel and the first surface of the second panel; andwherein the second connector connects the second surface of the secondpanel and the second surface of the third panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a fourth panel connected to the third panelusing a third connector; wherein the fourth panel also has a firstsurface and an opposing second surface; and wherein the third connectorconnects the first surface of the third panel to the first surface ofthe fourth panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a fifth panel connected to the fourth panelusing a fourth connector; and a sixth panel connected to the fifth panelusing a fifth connector; wherein the fifth panel and the sixth panelalso each have a first surface and an opposing second surface; whereinthe fourth connector connects the second surface of the fourth panel andthe second surface of the fifth panel; and wherein the fifth connectorconnects the first surface of the fifth panel to the first surface ofthe sixth panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the first connector and the second connector eachcomprise tape.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the first connector and the second connector are eachselected from the group consisting of a sticker and a hinge.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to at least one ofthe first panel and/or the third panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the grip portion comprises an aperture defined witheach of the first panel and the second panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third paneleach comprise a foam section/layer, a first paper substrate adhered to afirst side of each of the foam sections/layers, and a second papersubstrate adhered to an opposing second side of each of the foamsections/layers.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein at least one of the first panel, the second panel,and/or the third panel has/have a plurality of openings defined therein.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and thethird connection each comprise tape.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first paneland the fourth panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein each grip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a grip aperture defined within each of thefirst panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourth panel.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, wherein the first connector, the second connector, and thethird connector, the fourth connector, and the fifth connector eachcomprise tape.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first paneland the sixth panel

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, comprising a first panel, comprising a first cardboardpanel/sheet; a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the firstcardboard panel/sheet; a first cut/notch defined within the firstcardboard panel/sheet to allow the second cardboard panel/sheet to befolded at the first cut/notch in a first direction; and a secondcut/notch defined within the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow thefirst cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in asecond direction opposite the first direction.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a first quantity of tape applied to thesecond cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and asecond quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheetadjacent to the second cut/notch.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, comprising a first panel, comprising a first cardboardpanel/sheet; a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to the firstcardboard panel/sheet; a third cardboard panel/sheet connected to thesecond cardboard panel/sheet; a first cut/notch defined within the firstcardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet to allow thethird cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in afirst direction; a second cut/notch defined within the second cardboardpanel/sheet and the third cardboard panel/sheet to allow the firstcardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the second cut/notch in a seconddirection opposite the first direction; and a third cut/notch definedwithin the first cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboardpanel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at thethird cut/notch in the first direction.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of an exemplary portablebarrier, further comprising a first quantity of tape applied to thethird cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the first cut/notch; and asecond quantity of tape applied to the first cardboard panel/sheetadjacent to the second cut/notch; and a third quantity of tape appliedto the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the third cut/notch.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of portable barriers, asshown and described herein.

The present disclosure includes disclosure of methods to produce and/oruse portable barriers, as shown and described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, anddisclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, willbecome apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood byreference to the following description of various exemplary embodimentsof the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a portable barrier in an open configuration, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows an opposite side of the portable barrier of FIG. 1 in anopen configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a portable barrier in an open configuration, according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows the portable barrier of FIG. 1 in a closed/foldedconfiguration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 shows the portable barrier of FIG. 3 in a closed/foldedconfiguration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a panel comprising foam core, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A shows a top view of a two-ply cardboard panel, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B shows a top view of a three-ply cardboard panel, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a panel having various openings definedtherein/therethrough, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a top view of a three-ply cardboard panel, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 10 shows a panel showing the first planar side and the opposingsecond planar side, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of thecomponents depicted in the various figures will now be presented. Itshould be appreciated that not all of the features of the components ofthe figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussedfeatures, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed featuresare inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed featuresmay be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

An exemplary portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure is shown inFIG. 1, as a front perspective view, positioned upon a substrate 50,such as a floor or table. As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary portablebarrier 100 of the present disclosure comprises a plurality (at leasttwo) panels 102, each panel 102 having a height 104, a width 106, and athickness 108. The portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises fourpanels 102, labeled as panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, and 102 d. In variousembodiments, portable barriers 100 can comprise two, three, four, five,six, or more panels 102. Other embodiments, such as shown in FIGS. 7Aand 7B, can comprise a single panel 102 having one or more panelcuts/notches defined therein, as discussed in further detail herein.

Panels 102, as shown in FIG. 1, can be effectively connected to oneanother using one or more connectors 110. In at least one embodiment,and as shown in FIG. 1, connectors 110 comprise quantities of tape 112(such as duct tape, masking tape, packing tape, and the like), whereby afirst portion of tape 112, for example, is applied to a side or portionof a first panel 102 a, and whereby a second portion of tape 112, forexample, is applied to a side or portion of an adjacent second panel 102b. A first portion of another quantity of tape 112, for example, isapplied to a side or portion of a third panel 102 c, and a secondportion of that quantity of tape 112, for example, is applied to a sideor portion of an adjacent second panel 102 d, in this exemplaryembodiment. Tape 112 can span the height 104 of said panels 102, or oneor more portions of said height 104 of said panels 102. Exemplaryconnectors 110 of the present disclosure may include, but are notlimited to, duct tape 122, other types of adhesive tape, stickers, otheradhesive materials and/or materials used with an adhesive, hinges, andthe like, whereby said hinges, for example, could be positioned uponand/or embedded within portions of panels 102.

The “side or portion” of panels 102 referenced above and herein mayrefer to a first side 1002 or an opposing second side 1004 of a panel,as shown in FIG. 10. First side 1002 is considered as a first planarside of a panel 102, such as a first planar surface, and opposing secondside 1004 is considered as a second opposing planar side of the samepanel 102, such as a second planar surface. In view of the same, and asshown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 10 when considered together, a firstconnector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 a and a firstside 1002 of panel 102 b, a second connector 110 is applied to a secondside 1004 of panel 102 b and a second side 1004 of panel 102 c, and athird connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 c and afirst side 1002 of panel 102 d.

Exemplary portable barriers 100 of the present disclosure can furthercomprise one or more grip portions 120, such as shown in FIG. 1. Asshown therein, grip portion 120 comprises a quantity of sandpaper 122,such as adhesive sandpaper or sandpaper used within adhesive, wherebysandpaper 122 is positioned upon at least part of one or more panels102. The exemplary portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises twogrip portions 120 as adhesive sandpaper 122, where portions of adhesivesandpaper 122 are positioned around portions of the two outer panels 102a, 102 d, such as at a relative top (as shown in FIG. 1), and/or arelative side or a relative bottom of said panels 102. Sandpaper 122can, in various embodiments, be positioned only on a relative outside ofone or more exemplary panels 102, such as on panels 102 a, 102 d asshown in FIG. 2 (which also wrap around to the opposite sides of panels102, but which is not necessary). Exemplary grip portions 120 of thepresent disclosure include, but are not limited to, adhesive sandpaper122 (or sandpaper used with an adhesive to bind to panel 102), one ormore grip apertures 124 (described in further detail herein), one ormore handles, one or more loops, and the like, providing means for auser to grip an exemplary portable barrier 100 aside from grasping thetwo relative outside panels of an exemplary barrier 100 when in a foldedconfiguration. Using adhesive sandpaper 122 as a grip portion 120, forexample, permits portable barrier 100 can be readily carried, such aswhen a user grasps a relative front and back of a portable device 100 atthe adhesive sandpaper 122 portions. Various panels 102 of the presentdisclosure can be relatively smooth (low friction) and therefore notpermitting an easy grip, and use of adhesive sandpaper 122 (providinghigher friction between a hand and portable barrier 100) and/or gripapertures 124 as exemplary grip portions 120 allows easy carrying of aportable barrier 100, when portable barrier 100 is in a foldedconfiguration.

FIG. 2 shows the portable barrier 100 shown in FIG. 1, but as a rearperspective view, positioned upon a substrate 50. As shown therein, afirst portion of a quantity of tape 112 is applied to a portion ofsecond panel 102 b, and a second portion of a quantity of tape 112 isapplied to a portion of third panel 102 c. As such, and in thisexemplary portable barrier 100 embodiment, three separate pieces of ducttape 122 can be used, a first piece applied to a front of portablebarrier 100 to connect panel 102 a to panel 102 b, a second pieceapplied to a back of portable barrier 100 to connect panel 102 b topanel 102 c, and a third piece applied to a front of portable barrier100 to connect panel 102 c to 102 d. Phrased differently, pieces of ducttape 122 can be used to connect pairs of panels 102 on a front of saidpanels 102 and to connect said pairs to one another on a back of saidpanels 102. Duct tape 122 can be used as desired to connect variouspanels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, and/or other panels 102, to oneanother, on a front and/or back of portable barrier 100.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of an exemplary portable barrier100 of the present disclosure positioned upon a substrate 50. As showntherein, such an embodiment comprises six panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c,102 d, 102 e, 102 f, whereby duct tape is used connect panel 102 a topanel 102 b, to connect panel 102 b to 102 c (not shown; duct tape 122positioned on the opposite side, such as shown in FIG. 2), to connectpanel 102 c to panel 102 d, to connect panel 102 d to panel 102 e (notshown; duct tape 122 positioned on the opposite side, such as shown inFIG. 2), and to connect panel 102 e to panel 102 f.

In view of the same, and as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 10when considered together and the contextual description provided above,a first connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 a anda first side 1002 of panel 102 b, a second connector 110 is applied to asecond side 1004 of panel 102 b and a second side 1004 of panel 102 c, athird connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 c and afirst side 1002 of panel 102 d, a fourth connector 110 is applied to asecond side 1004 of panel 102 d and a second side 1004 of panel 102 e,and a fifth connector 110 is applied to a first side 1002 of panel 102 eand a first side 1002 of panel 102 f.

FIG. 3 also shows an embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the presentdisclosure, whereby grip portion 120 is a grip aperture 124 definedwithin various panels 100. Grip apertures 124, as shown in FIG. 3, canbe defined within each panel 102 of portable barrier 100, either at once(such as when panels 102 without grip apertures 124 are stacked on topof one another, such as when portable barrier 100 is in a foldedconfiguration), or separately, such as when forming each panel 102 orotherwise preparing each panel 102 for use as part of a portable barrier100 of the present disclosure. Grip aperture 124, in variousembodiments, is sized and shaped to permit a user's palm to fit withinsaid grip aperture 124, so that portable barrier 100 can be readilycarried, with a portion if the user's hand within said grip aperture124, when portable barrier 100 is in a folded configuration.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of thepresent disclosure in a folded configuration, such as a portable barrier100 embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and/or 2. As shown in FIG. 4, portablebarrier 100 can comprise two grip portions 120 as adhesive sandpaper122, one on a first panel 102 (panel 102 a as shown) and another on afourth panel 102 (panel 102 d as shown), so that when portable barrier100 is folded (as shown in FIG. 4), it can be readily carried bygripping the two adhesive sandpaper 122 elements with one hand.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of thepresent disclosure in a folded configuration, such as a portable barrier100 embodiment shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, portable barrier 100can comprise grip portions 120 as grip apertures 124 defined within eachpanel 102 (panels 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, 102 e, and 102 f, asshown) and defined so that each grip aperture 124 aligns with oneanother, so that when portable barrier 100 is folded (as shown in FIG.5), it can be readily carried by placing portions of a hand within eachgrip aperture 124.

In various portable barrier 100 embodiments of the present disclosure,panels 102 can comprise various materials, including, but not limitedto, foam core board, cardboard, wood, metal, plastic, and the like. FIG.6 shows an exemplary panel 102 of the present disclosure configured asfoam core board, comprising a foam section/layer 600, a first papersubstrate 602 adhered to a first side of foam section/layer 600, and asecond paper substrate 604 adhered to an opposing second side of foamsection/layer 600.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show top views of portable barrier 100 embodiments ofthe present disclosure comprising a single panel 102, but cut/notched soto be able to readily folded, such as with the embodiments of portablebarriers 100 shown in FIGS. 1-5 having multiple panels 102. As shown inFIG. 7A, panel 102 is configured as cardboard having a first cardboardlayer 700 and a second cardboard layer 702. First cardboard layer 700can be defined as the region between first cardboard panel/sheet 750 andsecond cardboard panel/sheet 752, and second cardboard layer 702 can bedefined as the region between second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and thirdcard cardboard panel/sheet 754, for example. A first cut/notch 704 a canbe defined within first cardboard layer 700 effectively cutting throughfirst cardboard panel/sheet 750, so to allow panel 102 to be easilyfolded at said cut/notch 704 a. A third cut/notch 704 c can also bedefined within first cardboard layer 700 effectively cutting throughfirst cardboard panel/sheet 750, so to allow panel 102 to be easilyfolded at said cut/notch 704 c. First cut/notch 704 a and thirdcut/notch 704 c can be on a relative first side of panel 102, while asecond cut/notch 704 b can be on a relative opposing second side ofpanel 102, whereby second cut/notch 704 b can be defined within secondcardboard layer 702 effectively cutting through third cardboardpanel/sheet 754. Optional tape 112, such as shown in FIG. 7A (and alsoas applicable to FIG. 7B), can be positioned upon panel 102 on oppositesides of cuts/notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c, so to reinforce panel102 at said cuts/notches 704 a, 704 b, and/or 704 c while allowing panel102 to readily fold flat.

The portable barrier 100 embodiment shown in FIG. 7A can be consideredas a “two-ply cardboard” embodiment. FIG. 7B shows a “three-plycardboard” embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the presentdisclosure. As shown in FIG. 7A, panel 102 is configured as cardboardhaving a first cardboard layer 700, a second cardboard layer 702, and athird cardboard layer 706. First cardboard layer 700 can be defined asthe region between first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboardpanel/sheet 752, second cardboard layer 702 can be defined as the regionbetween second cardboard panel/sheet 752 and third card cardboardpanel/sheet 754, and third cardboard layer 706 can be defined as theregion between third cardboard panel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboardpanel/sheet 756, for example. A first cut/notch 704 a can be definedwithin first cardboard layer 700 and second cardboard layer 702effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and secondcardboard panel/sheet 752, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded atsaid cut/notch 704 a. A third cut/notch 704 c can also be defined withinfirst cardboard layer 700 and second cardboard layer 702 effectivelycutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboardpanel/sheet 752, so to allow panel 102 to be easily folded at saidcut/notch 704 c. First cut/notch 704 a and third cut/notch 704 c can beon a relative first side of panel 102, while a second cut/notch 704 bcan be on a relative opposing second side of panel 102, whereby secondcut/notch 704 b can be defined within second cardboard layer 702 andthird cardboard layer 706, effectively cutting through third cardboardpanel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756. Optional tape 112(an exemplary connector 110), such as shown in FIG. 7A, can bepositioned upon panel 102 on opposite sides of cuts/notches 704 a, 704b, and/or 704 c, so to reinforce panel 102 at said cuts/notches 704 a,704 b, and/or 704 c while allowing panel 102 to readily fold flat.

Various panels 102 of the present disclosure can have one, two, three,four, or more cuts/notches 704 a, 704 b, 704 c, and the like, as may bedesired. It is noted that said cuts/notches 704 a, 704, 704 c, and thelike, can effectively alternate sides of said panel 102, such as shownin FIGS. 7A and 7B, to permit easy fan-folding of said panel 102.

Panels 102 of the present disclosure can comprise any number of sizeseffective for use as barriers for various purposes. For example, and inat least one embodiment, each panel 102 of a portable barrier 100 can beat or about 18″ wide (a 18″ width 106) by at or about 30″ tall (a 30″height 104). Other embodiments can be at our about 20″ wide (a 20″ width106) by at or about 30″ tall (a 30″ height 104). Other sizes, such aswidths 106 of 10″, 12″, 14″, 22″, 24″, or larger or smaller, and heights104 of 10″, 12″, 14″, 16″, 18″, 20″, 24″, 28″, 32″, 36″, 48″, or largeror smaller, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Exemplary portable barriers 100 of the present disclosure can be usedfor various purposes, such as ping pong (table tennis) barriers, golfputting barriers, swimming pool barriers, stanchions, room dividers,and/or other uses as may be desired.

FIG. 8 shows an exemplary panel 102 of the present disclosure havingopenings 800 defined therein. In various embodiments of panels 102 ofthe present disclosure, said panels 102 can have one, two, three, four,or more openings 800 defined therein, so to reduce weight of panels 102,for example. Openings 800, in various embodiments, have diameterssmaller than a diameter of a standard ping pong (table tennis) ball,such as having diameters less than 40 mm.

FIG. 9 shows a portion of another exemplary “three-ply cardboard”embodiment of a portable barrier 100 of the present disclosure. As shownin FIG. 9, panel 102 is configured as cardboard having a first cardboardlayer 700, a second cardboard layer 702, and a third cardboard layer706. First cardboard layer 700 can be defined as the region betweenfirst cardboard panel/sheet 750 and second cardboard panel/sheet 752,second cardboard layer 702 can be defined as the region between secondcardboard panel/sheet 752 and third card cardboard panel/sheet 754, andthird cardboard layer 706 can be defined as the region between thirdcardboard panel/sheet 754 and fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756, forexample. As shown in this example, panel 102 comprises corrugatedcardboard, whereby a first corrugation layer 900 is present between afirst cardboard panel/sheet 750 and a second cardboard panel/sheet 752,a second corrugation layer 902 is present between second cardboardpanel/sheet 752 and a third cardboard panel/sheet 754, and a thirdcorrugation layer 904 is present between third cardboard panel/sheet 754and a fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756.

A first cut/notch 704 a can be defined within first cardboard layer 700,second cardboard layer 702, and part of third cardboard layer 706,effectively cutting through first cardboard panel/sheet 750, secondcardboard panel/sheet 752 third cardboard panel/sheet 754, firstcorrugation layer 900, and second corrugation layer 902, so to allowpanel 102 to be easily folded at said cut/notch 704 a. A secondcut/notch 704 b can be on a relative opposing second side of panel 102,whereby second cut/notch 704 b can be defined within second cardboardlayer 702 and third cardboard layer 706, effectively cutting throughsecond cardboard panel/sheet 752, third cardboard panel/sheet 754,fourth cardboard panel/sheet 756, second corrugation layer 902, andthird corrugation layer 904. Other cuts/notches 704 can be definedtherein as may be desired, in various embodiments.

While various embodiments of portable foldable barriers and methods forproducing and using the same have been described in considerable detailherein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples ofthe disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may besubstituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope ofthe present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to beexhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.

Further, in describing representative embodiments, the presentdisclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particularsequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or processdoes not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, themethod or process should not be limited to the particular sequence ofsteps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore,the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not beconstrued as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition,disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited tothe performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences maybe varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

1. A portable barrier, comprising: a first panel; a second panelconnected to the first panel using a first connector; a third panelconnected to the second panel using a second connector; wherein thefirst panel, the second panel, and the third panel each have a firstsurface and an opposing second surface; wherein the first connectorconnects the first surface of the first panel and the first surface ofthe second panel; and wherein the second connector connects the secondsurface of the second panel and the second surface of the third panel.2. The portable barrier of claim 1, further comprising: a fourth panelconnected to the third panel using a third connector; wherein the fourthpanel also has a first surface and an opposing second surface; andwherein the third connector connects the first surface of the thirdpanel to the first surface of the fourth panel.
 3. The portable barrierof claim 2, further comprising: a fifth panel connected to the fourthpanel using a fourth connector; and a sixth panel connected to the fifthpanel using a fifth connector; wherein the fifth panel and the sixthpanel also each have a first surface and an opposing second surface;wherein the fourth connector connects the second surface of the fourthpanel and the second surface of the fifth panel; and wherein the fifthconnector connects the first surface of the fifth panel to the firstsurface of the sixth panel.
 4. The portable barrier of claim 1, whereinthe first connector and the second connector each comprise tape.
 5. Theportable barrier of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the secondconnector are each selected from the group consisting of a sticker and ahinge.
 6. The portable barrier of claim 1, further comprises a gripportion applied to at least one of the first panel and/or the thirdpanel.
 7. The portable barrier of claim 6, wherein the grip portioncomprises a quantity of sandpaper.
 8. The portable barrier of claim 6,wherein the grip portion comprises an aperture defined with each of thefirst panel and the second panel.
 9. The portable barrier of claim 1,wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel eachcomprise a foam section/layer, a first paper substrate adhered to afirst side of each of the foam sections/layers, and a second papersubstrate adhered to an opposing second side of each of the foamsections/layers.
 10. The portable barrier of claim 1, wherein at leastone of the first panel, the second panel, and/or the third panelhas/have a plurality of openings defined therein.
 11. The portablebarrier of claim 2, wherein the first connector, the second connector,and the third connector each comprise tape.
 12. The portable barrier ofclaim 2, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first paneland the fourth panel.
 13. The portable barrier of claim 12, wherein eachgrip portion comprises a quantity of sandpaper.
 14. The portable barrierof claim 2, further comprising a grip aperture defined within each ofthe first panel, the second panel, the third panel, and the fourthpanel.
 15. The portable barrier of claim 3, wherein the first connector,the second connector, and the third connector, the fourth connector, andthe fifth connector each comprise tape.
 16. The portable barrier ofclaim 3, further comprising a grip portion applied to the first paneland the sixth panel
 17. A portable barrier, comprising: a first panel,comprising: a first cardboard panel/sheet; a second cardboardpanel/sheet connected to the first cardboard panel/sheet; a firstcut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet to allow thesecond cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the first cut/notch in afirst direction; and a second cut/notch defined within the secondcardboard panel/sheet to allow the first cardboard panel/sheet to befolded at the second cut/notch in a second direction opposite the firstdirection.
 18. The portable barrier of claim 17, further comprising: afirst quantity of tape applied to the second cardboard panel/sheetadjacent to the first cut/notch; and a second quantity of tape appliedto the first cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch. 19.A portable barrier, comprising: a first panel, comprising: a firstcardboard panel/sheet; a second cardboard panel/sheet connected to thefirst cardboard panel/sheet; a third cardboard panel/sheet connected tothe second cardboard panel/sheet; a first cut/notch defined within thefirst cardboard panel/sheet and the second cardboard panel/sheet toallow the third cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the firstcut/notch in a first direction; a second cut/notch defined within thesecond cardboard panel/sheet and the third cardboard panel/sheet toallow the first cardboard panel/sheet to be folded at the secondcut/notch in a second direction opposite the first direction; and athird cut/notch defined within the first cardboard panel/sheet and thesecond cardboard panel/sheet to allow the third cardboard panel/sheet tobe folded at the third cut/notch in the first direction.
 20. Theportable barrier of claim 19, further comprising: a first quantity oftape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the firstcut/notch; and a second quantity of tape applied to the first cardboardpanel/sheet adjacent to the second cut/notch; and a third quantity oftape applied to the third cardboard panel/sheet adjacent to the thirdcut/notch.